Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-04-07
a coMMoN-sENsE MOVE.
An Organization of Colored Men Promul.
gate q New Declaration of andepend.

L
An Organization of Colored Men Promul-
| gate a New Declaration of independ-
|
| There is no more reason for the
| organization of colored mans party
| in this country than for the organiza-
I ton of a party of blondes or one of
gray boards. Yet, if by this means the
colored people of the South can grad
ually be brought into the exercise of
| their political rights in an intelligent
manner, and can be made to under
stand the full dignity of the freedom
and citizenship which were conferred
upon them. perhaps the movement
| which an educated black of Richmond,
Va, has started, will not be without
support in places where, under
other circumstances, it would be Wig
nrously combated. As outlined, the
aim of the Virginia gettlem an is to
form in every populous commu-
nifty an organization of the more
| progressive negroes for social and
political purposes. The political
| aspects of the organization are to be
kept in the background for time, and
an effort is to be made to improve the
condition of the race before it's active
participation in political matters will
be recommended. This may or may
not be the proper way to begin the ele-
| walton of the race, but the idea at the
bottom of the movement is a correct
one. The organization starts out with
the understanding that the negro does
| not belong to any one party; that I'M
der the existing political divisions the
intelligent voter of the black race, as
well as the intelligent voter of the
white race, must sometimes use his in
dependence to check evil tendencies in
both parties, and can never be said to
have decided intelligently as to his
duty until he has feed himself of the
tyranny of the party idolatry.
In the language of the author of the
new movement, ''Mr. Cleveland's Ad-
ministration has put more real value
on the negro's citizenship than all the
preceding Administrations since the
war" Under Grant the negro was
victimized by the carpet-bagger, who
robbed and deluded him and his white
associates as well, making sport of the
liberties of both by incessant appeals
to the military. Under Hayes the
negro was turned over to the tender
mercies of the whites on a trade.
Under Arthur no move was made to
lift the black man from the position in
which he was found, and the recogni-
ton which he received at the capital
was about on a par with that extended
to Indians untaxed. Mr.. Cleveland
has by word and deed undertaken to
deal with the enfranchised race as citi-
zens on an equality with all other
citizens. Many of them have been APP
pointed to office, some of them to places
of Importance, and the encouragement
thus extended has not been without its
effects upon the more advanced MEM
bers of the race everywhere. If the
Virginian can organize even a min
GRITTY of the blacks, and actuate them
with correct appreciation of their
rights and duties as citizens, he will
have accomplished work which will
be of the greatest value not only to
them but to the whites, even if it shall
be (lSne under the form of a colored
mans party.-Chtcago Herald.